Kamisama Shop de Cheat no Kaori

Chapter 167. The Bumpy Family And The Shining Negotiation

Before visiting the Adele Trading Company, the approved purchases were as follows:

Full-length mirror, wooden frame (176.5cm x 32cm) = 6,420 yen

Tabletop mirror, wooden frame (26cm x 14cm) = 780 yen

Remaining balance: 2,550,147 yen.

I hid in an alley and carried the full-length mirror wrapped in a blanket all the way here. Rotton was shocked upon seeing the mirror, which was about as tall as I was.

“Consider the frame a protective bonus. You can easily remove just the mirror by taking out the nails.”

“Ah, I see. Indeed, with this, wrapping it in cloth makes it easier to store and transport.”

“I’ve heard nobles prefer intricate carvings, so you can customize it as needed.”

“Yes, that seems wise. But still, I’ve never heard of such a large mirror being made without any distortions or fog.”

“That’s a company secret.”

“Understood.”

…So “company” translated smoothly. This really is some mysterious translation.

“However, I can’t even begin to guess the price of such an item. May I ask your desired price, Akira-sama?”

“Well…”

I paused for dramatic effect.

“The truth is, I have no idea of the mirror’s market value. Could I ask for your desired price instead, Rotton?”

Not even a twitch of Rotton’s brow. Impressive. Making the buyer set the price for such a high-quality item is quite bold.

“…Is this a test?”

After a brief contemplation, Rotton quietly spoke.

“A bit.”

“Akira-sama, you are very candid. This is quite the challenge, indeed…”

He stood again and picked up the large mirror.

“Oh, feel free to take it apart and examine it. It’s yours.”

“Pardon?”

He turned to me with an incredulous expression, clearly not acting.

“I’m sorry, my hearing seems to be failing me. Could you repeat that?”

“As many times as needed. The mirror is yours. It’s a product sample.”

Shock.

Understandable. My statement implied that this wasn’t a one-off item, but part of a series.

“…Are you saying this product is…”

“Yes. A mass-produced item.”

This time, Rotton was genuinely speechless.

“So, I’m hoping we can negotiate sincerely.”

My smile may have looked like a devil’s smirk.

Rotton wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and turned back to the mirror.

“May I really take it apart?”

“Yes, though I’d prefer it not be seen by others.”

“I’ll fetch my tools.”

He left the room and returned with a box full of tools like hammers and nail pullers.

“Allow me to help.”

“Please.”

A modern full-length mirror. The frame wasn’t anything special. The cheap wooden frame came off easily.

“From the side, it’s clear it’s really glass… and there’s something applied… I give up. Even if I tried to imitate this, I couldn’t.”

“Are you sure you should admit that so easily?”

“It’s scarier to lose the chance to negotiate with you.”

“Now then, Rotton-sama, what price would you place on this item?”

Rotton smiled, but sweat was trickling down his forehead. It wasn’t just due to the heat.

“…If we assume it’s a one-of-a-kind… then, let’s say… at least 3 million yen.”

That’s… surprising. I thought it would be worth only around 100,000 to 200,000 yen.

“I see…”

I fell silent, looking serious. The price difference was so large that I was mentally recalibrating my plans.

“From Akira-sama’s perspective, this may seem unreasonable, but for such a large item without precedent, I assure you, it’s not an attempt to undercut you! At the very least, that’s the minimum appraisal…”

“How about 30,000 yen?”

“…………”

Rotton looked utterly stunned, like a pigeon hit by a bean gun.

“Pardon?”

“The mirror there. How about 30,000 yen?”

“Thir…ty…thousand?”

Rotton was undoubtedly a skilled merchant. He had likely faced countless negotiations as intense as dealing with a demon. And yet…

“Surely… you jest?”

“I’m serious. However, there are conditions.”

“Conditions.”

Perhaps relieved, he calmed down and focused again.

“Yes. The condition is…”

I shared my pre-arranged strategy with him.

After a lengthy explanation, Rotton, with a bead of sweat still on his forehead, grinned slightly—a rare expression for him. It may have been his best attempt to put on a brave face.

“Very well… I accept.”

“Thank you.”

Rotton and I exchanged a firm handshake.

“…You’d make a fine con artist.”

“I’ve been told that recently by others.”

“They have a keen eye. And they will surely find happiness.”

“I’ll do my best to make that happen.”

We continued discussing until evening.

◆

Back at the slum base, soup distribution had already begun, led by Lalaila. …Is it called “soup distribution” if it isn’t rice?

Putting aside the details, they were serving a potato-based soup. I wondered if they got tired of the same menu every day, but apparently not. The presence of Hagg keeping watch had also made queuing more orderly, reducing confusion.

“Akira, today’s earnings. A bit low, sorry.”

In the shadow of the camper, Yaralai handed me the money. Low, but still 60,000 yen. Assuming one coyote fetched 14,000 yen, it meant only five were hunted. Hiring a wagon owner cost 10,000 yen.

Remaining balance: 2,610,147 yen.

“That’s plenty.”

“After seeing my work yesterday, hunters assumed there was a pack and rushed in.”

“Ah, I see…”

Seeing Yaralai’s success yesterday, other hunters must have assumed there was a pack of stone coyotes and flocked over. Still, managing to hunt that many was impressive.

“Starting tomorrow, you don’t have to go hunting. Could you help out with this job?”

“Of course.”

“Much appreciated.”

“Shall we help with the distribution then?”

“Yeah.”

We joined Lalaila and the others in distributing food. …I had a feeling the number of people had increased. After finishing the distribution, we started eating.

“Ugh… the same menu again…”

“Should I make katsu sandwiches?”

“Yes, anything but soup.”

“Got it. Anyone else want anything?”

Hagg, naturally, along with Faf, Yaralai, and even Lalaila raised their hands shyly. I wanted meat too.

Five packs of katsu sandwiches at 379 yen each: 1,895 yen.

Remaining balance: 2,608,252 yen.

Though distribution had ended, some slum residents remained nearby, so we huddled together, eating the sandwiches discreetly. It felt like a disaster-relief military meal…

“Haha… I never considered such discretion.”

“When my country’s… forces deployed during disasters, they ate discreetly to respect the victims.”

Not exactly “forces,” but close enough.

“Hmph. Just doing their job? They could eat proudly.”

“True, but this avoids resentment.”

“Hm… perhaps so.”

“We need to support this community. No sense in causing resentment.”

“Heh…”

Is that a Japanese way of thinking?